[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 4297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 489--DESIGNATING APRIL 2008 AS PUBLIC RADIO 
                           RECOGNITION MONTH

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Specter, Mr. Cardin, and 
Mr. Leahy) submitted the following resolution:

                              S. Res. 489

       Whereas the mission of public radio is to create a more 
     informed public--one that is challenged and invigorated by a 
     deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and 
     cultures;
       Whereas the programming and content created and distributed 
     by public radio is based upon three core values--qualities of 
     mind, qualities of heart and qualities of craft--and 
     exemplifies the inherent meaning of localism by placing value 
     and financial investment in local and regional assets to 
     gather and distribute a collection of programming that 
     informs and improves community;
       Whereas public radio is known for distinctive, award-
     winning programming including Morning Edition, All Things 
     Considered, A Prairie Home Companion, Marketplace, Speaking 
     of Faith, and This American Life;
       Whereas the United States' more than 800 public radio 
     stations serve every State and every congressional district 
     with news, information, cultural, and music programming that 
     is unique to free radio;
       Whereas some 33 million Americans listen each week to 
     public radio programming;
       Whereas the public radio audience has doubled in the past 
     15 years and increased by some 70 percent in the past decade;
       Whereas public radio stations are licensed by community 
     foundations, colleges, universities, school boards, 
     libraries, and other local non-profit entities;
       Whereas public radio stations are locally licensed, locally 
     staffed, and locally programmed, and tailor their programming 
     to meet the needs of local audiences;
       Whereas public radio stations receive, on average, more 
     than 85 percent of their annual funding from local sources;
       Whereas public radio's public service also finds expression 
     through a deep, rich music discovery, education and 
     enrichment experience--both for its audience and for 
     performers, singer-songwriters, musicians, lyricists, and 
     composers--which places the highest emphasis on a value 
     partnership with performers to bring all facets of music into 
     the lives of its audience in a way that is found nowhere 
     else;
       Whereas public radio has preserved and enhanced the 
     archetypal musical formats of American music history--jazz, 
     classical, folk, blue grass, the blues, Celtic--and regards 
     these formats as the priceless family treasures of public 
     radio's musical foundations;
       Whereas public radio is responding to its commitment to 
     community and fact-based journalism with several initiatives 
     including the Local News Initiative, a national effort to 
     increase public radio's service to communities through 
     investments in station capacity to provide in-depth, serious, 
     and balanced news and Public Insight Journalism, a pioneering 
     concept that uses citizens to help cover the news by sharing 
     their observations, knowledge, and expertise;
       Whereas public radio has embraced digital broadcasting 
     technology because of its inherently inclusive nature and 
     potential to expand public service programming; and
       Whereas public radio exists to serve the public interest: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the month of April 2008 shall be known as 
     Public Radio Recognition Month, during which time all of 
     America's public radio stations shall be celebrated for their 
     contributions to our Nation's communities and enduring civic 
     spirit.

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